ZHA Zigbee Devices stuck on "Starting Interview"

Configuration Zigbee
21

I have an Aquara Mini Wireless (Aqara Wireless Mini Switch WXKG11LM Zigbee compatibility) previously connected via Zigbee2MQTT and that I wanted to join a ZHA network (I am moving from Z2M to ZHA).

First, it did not show up at all, then was stuck in starting interview.
I removed the battery for 30 minutes (it helped me in the past) and then tried again. I was clicking everything during the interview (the main button and the pairing button) and, behold, it got paired at last!

As unk_model by unk_manufacturer :rage::rage:

I am writing this here for the ones who are trying - do not lose hope! I will open a new question for this unk_model thing…

EDIT: I removed the device and re-added it. This time it worked, waaaaay quicker than the first time. The model is correctly recognized now.

This Zigbee protocol is really weird.

22

I had today (15.06.2024) the same problem, but it was caused by the distance between sensor and Zigbee hub. When I reduced the distance to 5 meters all was running like a charm.

23

Other than replacing batteries with frah ones you should try to follow tips here:

24

Hello to all,
I’ve same trouble but only with two IKEA devices, with AQARA it works perfectly.
With IKEA, ZHA only show “starting inteview”, I tried everything but no solution till now.
Any idea?

thank you.

25

There are almost a hundred different zigbee Ikea devices. If you tell us which specific models you’re having trouble with, we might be able to help you.

26

TRÅDFRI Signal repeater is stuck on “starting interview”, I tried everything.
I use DONGLE-P as cordinator and DONGLE-E flashed with repeater firmware.

thanks

27

I’m guessing you have this model. Read the notes under “Pairing” - you need to use a paperclip and make sure it’s firmly pressed in for it to go into pairing mode.

28

yes, I have that model, I tried several times, nothing to do.
It remains stuck on “starting interview”.

29

I have a TS0201_TZ3000_dowj6gyi with the same problem: had it working fine for a long time, battery had to be replaced, replaced battery, tried to onboard again, got discovered saying ‘Device found … Starting interview’ showing IEEE (mac address?) and NWK, but never finished onboarding (devices stopped pairing mode before any other step in HA is done)

For me, the SOLUTION was to update the firmware of my (Electrolama) Zigbee stick: after doing that, the TS0201 paired immediately.

30

Same problem - ledvance zigbee plug and sonoff dongle (TICC2652). Other devices have taught in OK with this dongle. I tried many things with ledvance plugs, finally I just plugged it in the same room where zigbee dongle is. Then it paired almost instantly. After configuring it, I moved it to desired location and it still works…
Exact same behaviour with both plugs I have, so probably this helps at least someone.

31

That wasn’t the cause. I had one sitting on my bedside table, same thing happened. Haven’t been able to repair it to HA.

32

It looks like no progress has been made on this issue? I’ve had multiple devices fall off my Zigbee network lately and cannot re-add them.

  • IKEA Vallhorn x2
  • Aqara wireless mini switch
  • Smartthings leak sensor
  • IKEA Parasoll window sensors
  • IKEA Trader on/off switch
  • Sonoff ZBMINIL2

Now when I try to repair anything it just gets stuck in “Starting interview”

33

I think I got a related issue,

my first attempts of reconnecting failed, then I started to show the log.
reloaded the zigbee integration and tried again and now I found my device.

I think there is room for improvement here.

Device 0xbac3 (e0:79:8d:ff:fe:e0:96:49) left the network
Device 0xbac3 (e0:79:8d:ff:fe:e0:96:49) left the network
Device 0xbac3 (e0:79:8d:ff:fe:e0:96:49) left the network
Device 0x78e6 (e0:79:8d:ff:fe:e0:96:49) joined the network
[0x78e6] Already have endpoints: {0: <zigpy.zdo.ZDO object at 0x7f674bdeb0>, 1: <Endpoint id=1 in=[basic:0x0000, identify:0x0003] out=[identify:0x0003, ota:0x0019] status=<Status.ZDO_INIT: 1>>, 2: <Endpoint id=2 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>, 242: <Endpoint id=242 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>}
[0x78e6] Initializing endpoints [<Endpoint id=1 in=[basic:0x0000, identify:0x0003] out=[identify:0x0003, ota:0x0019] status=<Status.ZDO_INIT: 1>>, <Endpoint id=2 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>, <Endpoint id=242 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>]
[0x78e6:1] Discovering endpoint information
[0x78e6:1] Endpoint descriptor already queried
[0x78e6:2] Discovering endpoint information
[0x78e6] Already have endpoints: {0: <zigpy.zdo.ZDO object at 0x7f674bdeb0>, 1: <Endpoint id=1 in=[basic:0x0000, identify:0x0003] out=[identify:0x0003, ota:0x0019] status=<Status.ZDO_INIT: 1>>, 2: <Endpoint id=2 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>, 242: <Endpoint id=242 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>}
[0x78e6] Initializing endpoints [<Endpoint id=1 in=[basic:0x0000, identify:0x0003] out=[identify:0x0003, ota:0x0019] status=<Status.ZDO_INIT: 1>>, <Endpoint id=2 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>, <Endpoint id=242 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>]
[0x78e6:1] Discovering endpoint information
[0x78e6:1] Endpoint descriptor already queried
[0x78e6:2] Discovering endpoint information
[0x78e6] Already have endpoints: {0: <zigpy.zdo.ZDO object at 0x7f674bdeb0>, 1: <Endpoint id=1 in=[basic:0x0000, identify:0x0003] out=[identify:0x0003, ota:0x0019] status=<Status.ZDO_INIT: 1>>, 2: <Endpoint id=2 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>, 242: <Endpoint id=242 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>}
[0x78e6] Initializing endpoints [<Endpoint id=1 in=[basic:0x0000, identify:0x0003] out=[identify:0x0003, ota:0x0019] status=<Status.ZDO_INIT: 1>>, <Endpoint id=2 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>, <Endpoint id=242 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>]
[0x78e6:1] Discovering endpoint information
[0x78e6:1] Endpoint descriptor already queried
[0x78e6:2] Discovering endpoint information
[0x78e6] Already have endpoints: {0: <zigpy.zdo.ZDO object at 0x7f674bdeb0>, 1: <Endpoint id=1 in=[basic:0x0000, identify:0x0003] out=[identify:0x0003, ota:0x0019] status=<Status.ZDO_INIT: 1>>, 2: <Endpoint id=2 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>, 242: <Endpoint id=242 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>}
[0x78e6] Initializing endpoints [<Endpoint id=1 in=[basic:0x0000, identify:0x0003] out=[identify:0x0003, ota:0x0019] status=<Status.ZDO_INIT: 1>>, <Endpoint id=2 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>, <Endpoint id=242 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>]
[0x78e6:1] Discovering endpoint information
[0x78e6:1] Endpoint descriptor already queried
[0x78e6:2] Discovering endpoint information
[0x78e6] Already have endpoints: {0: <zigpy.zdo.ZDO object at 0x7f674bdeb0>, 1: <Endpoint id=1 in=[basic:0x0000, identify:0x0003] out=[identify:0x0003, ota:0x0019] status=<Status.ZDO_INIT: 1>>, 2: <Endpoint id=2 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>, 242: <Endpoint id=242 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>}
[0x78e6] Initializing endpoints [<Endpoint id=1 in=[basic:0x0000, identify:0x0003] out=[identify:0x0003, ota:0x0019] status=<Status.ZDO_INIT: 1>>, <Endpoint id=2 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>, <Endpoint id=242 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>]
[0x78e6:1] Discovering endpoint information
[0x78e6:1] Endpoint descriptor already queried
[0x78e6:2] Discovering endpoint information

New device 0x076d (e0:79:8d:ff:fe:e0:96:49) joined the network
[0x076d] Requesting 'Node Descriptor'
[0x076d] Requesting 'Node Descriptor'
[0x076d] Got Node Descriptor: NodeDescriptor(logical_type=<LogicalType.Router: 1>, complex_descriptor_available=0, user_descriptor_available=0, reserved=0, aps_flags=0, frequency_band=<FrequencyBand.Freq2400MHz: 8>, mac_capability_flags=<MACCapabilityFlags.FullFunctionDevice|MainsPowered|RxOnWhenIdle|AllocateAddress: 142>, manufacturer_code=4880, maximum_buffer_size=82, maximum_incoming_transfer_size=82, server_mask=11264, maximum_outgoing_transfer_size=82, descriptor_capability_field=<DescriptorCapability.NONE: 0>, *allocate_address=True, *is_alternate_pan_coordinator=False, *is_coordinator=False, *is_end_device=False, *is_full_function_device=True, *is_mains_powered=True, *is_receiver_on_when_idle=True, *is_router=True, *is_security_capable=False)
[0x076d] Discovering endpoints
[0x076d] Discovered endpoints: [1, 2, 242]
[0x076d] Initializing endpoints [<Endpoint id=1 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>, <Endpoint id=2 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>, <Endpoint id=242 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>]
[0x076d:1] Discovering endpoint information
[0x076d:1] Discovered endpoint information: SizePrefixedSimpleDescriptor(endpoint=1, profile=260, device_type=8, device_version=1, input_clusters=[0, 3], output_clusters=[3, 25])
[0x076d:2] Discovering endpoint information
[0x076d] Already have endpoints: {0: <zigpy.zdo.ZDO object at 0x7f01c8a510>, 1: <Endpoint id=1 in=[basic:0x0000, identify:0x0003] out=[identify:0x0003, ota:0x0019] status=<Status.ZDO_INIT: 1>>, 2: <Endpoint id=2 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>, 242: <Endpoint id=242 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>}
[0x076d] Initializing endpoints [<Endpoint id=1 in=[basic:0x0000, identify:0x0003] out=[identify:0x0003, ota:0x0019] status=<Status.ZDO_INIT: 1>>, <Endpoint id=2 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>, <Endpoint id=242 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>]
[0x076d:1] Discovering endpoint information
[0x076d:1] Endpoint descriptor already queried
[0x076d:2] Discovering endpoint information
[0x076d:2] Discovered endpoint information: SizePrefixedSimpleDescriptor(endpoint=2, profile=260, device_type=2080, device_version=1, input_clusters=[0, 3, 4096], output_clusters=[3, 6, 8, 4096])
[0x076d:242] Discovering endpoint information
[0x076d] Already have endpoints: {0: <zigpy.zdo.ZDO object at 0x7f01c8a510>, 1: <Endpoint id=1 in=[basic:0x0000, identify:0x0003] out=[identify:0x0003, ota:0x0019] status=<Status.ZDO_INIT: 1>>, 2: <Endpoint id=2 in=[basic:0x0000, identify:0x0003, lightlink:0x1000] out=[identify:0x0003, on_off:0x0006, level:0x0008, lightlink:0x1000] status=<Status.ZDO_INIT: 1>>, 242: <Endpoint id=242 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>}
[0x076d] Initializing endpoints [<Endpoint id=1 in=[basic:0x0000, identify:0x0003] out=[identify:0x0003, ota:0x0019] status=<Status.ZDO_INIT: 1>>, <Endpoint id=2 in=[basic:0x0000, identify:0x0003, lightlink:0x1000] out=[identify:0x0003, on_off:0x0006, level:0x0008, lightlink:0x1000] status=<Status.ZDO_INIT: 1>>, <Endpoint id=242 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>]
[0x076d:1] Discovering endpoint information
[0x076d:1] Endpoint descriptor already queried
[0x076d:2] Discovering endpoint information
[0x076d:2] Endpoint descriptor already queried
[0x076d:242] Discovering endpoint information
[0x076d] Already have endpoints: {0: <zigpy.zdo.ZDO object at 0x7f01c8a510>, 1: <Endpoint id=1 in=[basic:0x0000, identify:0x0003] out=[identify:0x0003, ota:0x0019] status=<Status.ZDO_INIT: 1>>, 2: <Endpoint id=2 in=[basic:0x0000, identify:0x0003, lightlink:0x1000] out=[identify:0x0003, on_off:0x0006, level:0x0008, lightlink:0x1000] status=<Status.ZDO_INIT: 1>>, 242: <Endpoint id=242 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>}
[0x076d] Initializing endpoints [<Endpoint id=1 in=[basic:0x0000, identify:0x0003] out=[identify:0x0003, ota:0x0019] status=<Status.ZDO_INIT: 1>>, <Endpoint id=2 in=[basic:0x0000, identify:0x0003, lightlink:0x1000] out=[identify:0x0003, on_off:0x0006, level:0x0008, lightlink:0x1000] status=<Status.ZDO_INIT: 1>>, <Endpoint id=242 in=[] out=[] status=<Status.NEW: 0>>]
[0x076d:1] Discovering endpoint information
[0x076d:1] Endpoint descriptor already queried
[0x076d:2] Discovering endpoint information
[0x076d:2] Endpoint descriptor already queried
[0x076d:242] Discovering endpoint information
[0x076d:242] Discovered endpoint information: SizePrefixedSimpleDescriptor(endpoint=242, profile=41440, device_type=97, device_version=1, input_clusters=[], output_clusters=[33])
[0x076d] Read model 'WG001-Z01' and manufacturer 'AL001' from <Endpoint id=1 in=[basic:0x0000, identify:0x0003] out=[identify:0x0003, ota:0x0019] status=<Status.ZDO_INIT: 1>>
[0x076d] Discovered basic device information for <Device model='WG001-Z01' manuf='AL001' nwk=0x076D ieee=e0:79:8d:ff:fe:e0:96:49 is_initialized=True>
[0x076D:2:0x1000]: Couldn't get list of groups: